Smart Family

(ARA) - A smaller budget and busy work and school schedules don't mean your family has to stay home all the time. There are lots of alternatives to an expensive family trip.

Looking for ways to escape your life for a few hours, a day and even a weekend? Disney Family.com -- an online resource that was created to provide parents with helpful information from experts and other parents -- has many tips to help you plan for an afternoon or weekend getaway.

"Our goal is to help parents plan a great family vacation whether they are going to travel across the world, across the country or across town," says Emily Smith, vice-president of the Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio of sites. "Even on a budget, families can plan fun vacations."

* Bring the world to your neighborhood.
If you can't afford to pack up your family and traverse around the globe, you can still bring it to your neighborhood through food and music. Start with decorations, and put your children to work. For example, if you're "traveling" to Africa, make sure you have the safari animals present – whether they're made with papier-mache, color craft paper or are your children's favorite stuffed animals lined up around the table.

Costumes are another fun way to change your neighborhood into an international destination. But don't forget the food, because that’s where the celebration begins. For ideas on how to bring the world to your neighborhood, visit www.Family.com/travel.

* Investigate the local destinations.
Even if you only have one free day, that’s enough time to pack the family in the car and check out some of the nearby county or state parks. Throw a picnic lunch into the trunk complete with a couple of blankets, sunblock, bug spray, hiking shoes and a trail map. Or if you have an entire weekend free, plan a camping trip – and don't forget the marshmallows. After school starts in the fall, camping is still a good weekend option.

* Make a weekend trip to the big city.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun in one of the big cities across the United States. For example, many museums have free hours, and every city has a historical, structural or architectural attraction to keep the family busy for hours. Contact the visitor's bureau or the chamber of commerce for the city you're planning to visit to find other special discounts and travel deals.

There are many more ideas for backyard holidays, day trips and weekend vacations at Family.com/travel. Don't keep your family cooped up at home. Get out, have some fun and don't forget to pack the camera so you can document your adventures.

Courtesy of ARAcontent